Search This Blog

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Leadership Principles That Transform

The organization I work for came up with a set of principles to guide the organization in the area of leadership. We all know that successful project managers are effective leaders.

--------------------------------------------------

Leaders are charged with transforming our organization into a more flexible, responsive and efficient high performing organization by fostering a climate which will encourage active involvement by all:

a. Instill the culture of high performance through all in our community. (Accountability)

b. Share my understanding and assist others to elevate their understanding of our commonly held leadership philosophy. (Cooperation and Teamwork)

c. Continually seek and remain open to new possibilities (Innovation)

d. Work to improve the quality of life of our community through collaboration. (Trust and Integrity)

e. Actively pursue the realization of our collective vision and be held accountable for our actions and leadership in shaping our future. (Clarity of Direction)

f. Embrace confronting the unsaid in our conversations. While maintaining a bias for action, we acknowledge the need for patience as we work to improve our performance (Honesty and Integrity)

g. Value a sense of urgency and maintain a focus on achieving results at the pace possible rather than the pace expected. (Effectiveness)

h. Encourage the celebration of our results. (Rewards and Recognition)

i. Support and create talent networks that value and celebrate diversity with a holistic view that leads us to results. (Cooperation and Teamwork)

j. Empower and mentor all to be innovative and take risks. (Inspiration and Empowerment)

k. Be fearless in the pursuit of our vision. (Clarity of Direction)

Teamwork, Common Goals, and Leadership at all levels will result in success.

Monday, April 09, 2007

What Skills Does a Project Manager Need to Master?

Project Managers need to master the following skills and traits in order to be successful:

Have Recognized Leadership Skills

Posses Good Decision Making Skills

Posses Good Communication Skills

Have a Sense of Humor

Have Integrity

Possess a Driven Desire to Succeed

Have Demonstrated Project Management Skills

Have Self-Discipline

Have Vision

Posses Active Listening Skills

Be Compassionate

Utilize a Proven yet Flexible Project Management Methodology


The question we need to ask ourselves is how we master the above skills? My quick answer is a blend of education, experience, on-the-job training, mentoring, and a continuous feedback loop.

I'm grateful that in my career I've had mentors to help me improve my skills while helping me learn to drop bad habits. In order to move from good to great we must work to improve our skills and focus on our strengths; however, we must also identify and minimize or eliminate our weaknesses.

Finally, great project managers like working with people. They like challenges, they have an even temperament, and they are a motivating influence to those around them. They don’t just plan and delegate, they get involved and become part of the team. They have to respect others and be shown respect in return. They are congenial, they are approachable, and they have integrity. A project manager that is lacking in any of the above areas won't be successful over the long haul.